On Sunday morning, it was clear that the weather was on the turn. There had been quite a wetness in the night, but it was off by the time we were thinking of going out the door. (We had been a little slow off the mark in the morning due to Rugby World Cup matters.) The sky was very overcast, though, and the wind was a bit 'lazy' (instead of going around you it was going 'through').
No matter. We headed along an even smaller road from Alligin to a place called Diabaig ("Deep Bay"). Research reveals that this was the maritime supply hub for the Torridon area before roads came. (From this, one assumes that ships brought product and then smaller boats came round from Lochs Shieldaig and Torridon to obtain their goods. It explains the surprisingly grand stone pier in this hamlet of little more than two dozen homes.
The building you see on the left of this image, taken from the pier looking back at the settlement, is the old schoolhouse. It is now transformed. The Ghille Brighde (Oystercatcher) restaurant is a destination, and, despite there being virtually nothing else within miles, we were surprised by how busy it was!
We, however, would have lunch back at the cottage but headed first for a look at the other part of the settlement called Inveralligin. It is larger and closer to the shore than at Wester. (I discovered on returning to Edinburgh, that Neighbour M used to spend childhood holidays in a caravan on one of the crofts here - I think the one which now has free(very)range chooks... I digress)
Although it was cooler and rather windier than the previous evening, Gail decided to do her dunk in the water again - only this time in the kayak.
Monday came and we cleaned and packed and set off back to Aberdeen, taking the time to stop in at Beinn Eighe visitor centre, for a little wander in the woods.
Our next stop after this was in Nairn, on the east coast (Moray Firth). We had lunch there. It was about 4 pm when we got into Aberdeen. Just one night for me, as I then had to get back on the buses, well one anyway, to get down to Edinburgh.
A FABulous trip and am already thinking about all the great places I can discover now I have this bus pass... watch this space!!! I leave you with a 'drive-by shooting' of a Nairn church, and a close-up and personal shot of a Nairn fisher wife.
No matter. We headed along an even smaller road from Alligin to a place called Diabaig ("Deep Bay"). Research reveals that this was the maritime supply hub for the Torridon area before roads came. (From this, one assumes that ships brought product and then smaller boats came round from Lochs Shieldaig and Torridon to obtain their goods. It explains the surprisingly grand stone pier in this hamlet of little more than two dozen homes.
The building you see on the left of this image, taken from the pier looking back at the settlement, is the old schoolhouse. It is now transformed. The Ghille Brighde (Oystercatcher) restaurant is a destination, and, despite there being virtually nothing else within miles, we were surprised by how busy it was!
We, however, would have lunch back at the cottage but headed first for a look at the other part of the settlement called Inveralligin. It is larger and closer to the shore than at Wester. (I discovered on returning to Edinburgh, that Neighbour M used to spend childhood holidays in a caravan on one of the crofts here - I think the one which now has free(very)range chooks... I digress)
Although it was cooler and rather windier than the previous evening, Gail decided to do her dunk in the water again - only this time in the kayak.
Monday came and we cleaned and packed and set off back to Aberdeen, taking the time to stop in at Beinn Eighe visitor centre, for a little wander in the woods.
Our next stop after this was in Nairn, on the east coast (Moray Firth). We had lunch there. It was about 4 pm when we got into Aberdeen. Just one night for me, as I then had to get back on the buses, well one anyway, to get down to Edinburgh.
A FABulous trip and am already thinking about all the great places I can discover now I have this bus pass... watch this space!!! I leave you with a 'drive-by shooting' of a Nairn church, and a close-up and personal shot of a Nairn fisher wife.
